Tank



Ma 22, 1923. 1,455,796 r H. LOGAN TANK I, Filed Avril 11922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T I fidmzflfx I U r V EMWC/ Jagmv Patented May 22, 1923.

HOWARD LOGAN, or CHIGAGQ, ILLINOIS.

TAN K.

Application filed April 1,

Z '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HowAno LOGAN, citizen ot the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tanks, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to tanks and is of particular service when employed in connection with the tanks of tank cars, though the invention is not to be thus restricted.

lily invention resides in providing a closure for the tank outlet opening and in threaded engagement with the tank, this closure being formed for turning engagement upon its interior and exterior, the interior formation being accessible when the closure is in place.

in the preferred embodiment of my invention the tank is formed with a circular discharge opening and is provided with a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned and an interior formation whereby it may also be turned.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention there is a stem which projects from an inner portion of the plug through the side of the tank opposite the side where the plug is located to be operable upon the exterior of the tank. Means are also preferably furnished for obstructing movement of the stem longitudinally of its axis and serving to hold the inner end of the stem at the plug opening in position to enable the plug to be engaged with the stem in the entering movement of the plug, in case the plug and stem are separable.

In order that the contents of the tank may be directed in its flow therefrom. I provide a discharge nozzle in register with the dis charge opening. This discharge nozzle desirahly includes an angular outlet portion and may-be formed with an opening through which the exterior of the plug may be en gaged for turning it. In order that the discharge nozzle may not be liable to receive violent blows while the tank or tank car is in transit. the nozzle is made removable to be assembled with the balance of the structure 1922. Serial No. 548,860.

when the tank or tank car has reached destination.v

v Before the tank is to be filled with the contents to be stored therein for shipment or other purpose, the plug may be placed in tank closing position by turning it either from the interior or the exterior. When the contents of the tank are to be removed the plug is loosened from the tank interior sufli ciently to enable it to be finally removed by turning it from the interior of the tank to prevent the released contents from spilling upon the person engaged in removing the plug. By so constructing the plug that it may be turned both from the interior and exterior of the tank the long stem or other tool that finally completes the removal of the plug from or through the interiorv of the tank is relieved of the severe strain which is usually required to start the plug, it being possible to employ a sufficiently short and stout tool to perform the latter function upon the tank interior.

The invention will be fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an intermediate portion of a tank car constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, on line 22 of Fig. 1, with the discharge nozzle and other parts removed and parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a view on a larger scale mainly in section on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an. intermediate portion ot a tank car constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on a larger scale on line 55 of Fig. 4, with its discharge nozzle portion and other-parts removed; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 7 is a view on a larger scale mainly in section on line 77 of Fig. 4.

Like parts areindicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The invention is shown as being embraced in a tank car structure, the tank 1 being supported upon the tank car center sills 2 in any suitable or well known way. The tank is formed with a circular discharge opening 3 in: its bottom side, this opening being prefplug is provided with an interior formation whereby it may be turned by means of force applied thereto upon its inner side. The plug is preferably formed with a socket 7 upon its inner side, this socket being poly onal in contour to receive a stem 8 whose plug engaging lower end is also polygonal in contour and conforms in shape to the socket, this construction permitting the plug and its stem to hem separable relation although the invention is not to be thus limited. I

The stem is desirablyprovided with means for obstructing movement thcreoi longitudinally of its axis whereby the inner or lower end of the stem may be maintained at the plug opening imposition to enable the plug to :be engaged with the stem in the entering movement of the plug so that the closing movement oi the plug may be finished, it desired by turning the plug stem and whereby ample engagementis afforded between the plug and stem when the stem is employed to complete the removal of the plug.

'The means for obstructing the movement of the stem longitudinally of its axis may reside in 81.001131 9 fixed upon the stem and engaging the under. side of the top of the tank and a collar 10 fixed upon the stem and engaging the upperend of the bearing 11 that is upon the top side of the tank dome 12. There is desirably no appreciable lost motion between the collars and the portions of the tank structure that are located between the collars so that the stem is con fined to a substantially fixed zone of rotation.

The upperend of the stem may be polygonal in contour according to-the construction of Figs. 1 and 2 whereby a suitablewrench may be engaged therewith. In order to prevent tampering, the upper end of the stem may be enclosed by means of a cap 13 in hinged connection with an extended part of theibearing 11, a seal 14 guarding against undetectable opening oij'this closure.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6%,- the upper end of the stem, although projecting through the tank 1, terminates within the tank dome 12 and is provided with a crank 15 whereby the stem may be turned. In this embodiment of the invention movement of the stem longitudinally of its axis is guarded against by means of collars 9 and 16 fixed uponthe stem and in close engagement with the top portion of the tank that is interposed between these collars. By means oi the collars 9 and 10 in the structure of Fig. 1 and the collars 9 and 16 in the structure of Fig. 4 the inner or lower end of the stem is held at the plug opening in position to enable the plug to be engaged with the stem in the entering movement of the plug. 1

In order that the contents of the tank may be suitably directed in their outward flow I provide a discharge nozzle 17 uponvt-he exterior of the tank and in register with the discharge opening This nozzleis desirably in separable relation with the tank either by having its upper end in threaded engagement with the fitting i according to f the structure o t F1gs."l,2 and 3 or by means of the clamping bolts 18 pivoted upon the bottom side of the fitting iv and having their nuts 19 engageable beneath the ears 20 that project laterally from the nozzle and which are providedpin pairs, the ears of each pair being separated to receive the bolts therebetween, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7. In this latter construction the top of the nozzle may be provided with a packing gasket 21 adapted for fluid tight abutting engagement withthe rim 22 of the fitting at.

When the tankisa part of a tank car the nozzle 17 passes between the car center sills 2. The angular extension 23 may be in the nature of a separatepipe screwed into place and underlying one of the center sills. This extension be equipped with a. gate valve 24: for controlling the outward flow of fluid. v

A delivery hose 25 ;may be clamped upon the outer end of the 'exten'sion 23 if desired. The main portion of the nozzle that extends be tween the center sills is downwardly continued below its angular branch 23 to torm a pocket 26 for holding the plug 5 when the unscrewing movement of the plug has been applied by its stem 8. In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, there is a T 27that establishes connection between and forms parts of the upright andangular portions of the nozzle. ThisT hasian opening in its lower end that is normally closed by a cap 28. A nozzle thus constructed maybe screwed into place before the plug5 is initially loosened to prepare for its removal by the operation of the plug stem 8 since the cap 28 may be removed to permit the passage of a wrench through the upright portion of the nozzle into engagement with the outer end of the plug 5 to loosen the same to permit further turning of the plug byits stem 8 without undue tortional strain'upon the stem.

In the structure of Fig. 3, after-the plug has beeninitially loosened the cap 28 is reapplied to restore the nozzle to its normal shape, the plug being caught by the cap when the plug is completely removed. Thus the tank may readily be opened at its discharge outlet without danger of having its contents spilled upon the person opening the tank and without requiring the exertion of undue effort upon the plug stem. lVhen the contents of the ta'nkhave been withdrawn the nozzle-may if desired, be removed. ,lVhen inverted, after its removal, the plug will fall out of the nozzle and may readily bescrewed into the bottom of the tank to prepare the tank for the reception of fresh contents.

In the structure of Fig. 7 there is no clo sure corresponding to the closure 28 of the structure of Fig. 3 making it desirable to initially loosen the plug before the nozzle is applied.

If it should be desired to retain the. nozzle in assembly with the tank of the tank car it may be weakened as indicated at 29 for the purpose of causing the nozzle to be broken at this place if the lower part thereof should be violently struclnto prevent the distortion of the tank bottom.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention 1 do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as'new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent the following 1. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned; a stem within the tank and in separable turning engagement with said plug; and means for obstructing movement of the stem longitudinally of its axis and serving to hold the inner end of the stem at the plug opening in position to enable the plug to be engaged with the stem in the em tering movement of the plug.

2. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned; a stem in separable turning engagement with an inner portion of the plug through the side of the tank opposite the side where the plug is located to be operable upon the exterior of the tank; and means for obstructing movement of the stem longitudinally of its axis and serving to hold the inner end of the stem at the plug opening in position to enable the plug to be engaged with the stem in the entering movement of the plug.

3. A tank having a circular discharge opening, a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned and an interior formation, accessible when the plug is in place, whereby it may also be turned; anda discharge nozzle upon the exterior of the tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion, said nozzle having an opening through which said plug is accessible.

4. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned; a stem within the tank and in turning relation to said plug; and a discharge nozzle upon the exterior of the tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion, said nozzle having an opening through which said plug is accessible.

5. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned; a stem in turning relation to and projecting from an inner portion of the plug through the side of the tank opposite the side where the plug is located to be operable upon the exterior of the tank; and a discharge nozzle upon the exterior ofthe tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion, said nozzle having an opening through which said plug is accessible.

6. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threadedv engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby, it may be turned; a stem within the tank and in separable turning engagement with said plug; and a discharge nozzle upon the exterior of the tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion, said nozzle having an opening through which said plug is accessible.

7. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with-the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned; a stem in separable turning engagement with an inner portion of the plug through the side of the tank opposite the side where the plug is located to be operable uponthe exteriorlof the tank; and a discharge nozzle upon the exterioriof the tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion, said nozzle having an opening through which said plug is accessible.

8. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion ofthe tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned stem within the tank and in separable turning engagement with said plug; means for obstructing movement of the stem longitudinally of its axis and serving to hold the inner end of the stem at the plug opening in position-to enable the plug to be engaged with the stem in the entering movement ofthe plug; and a discharge nozzle upon the exterior of the tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion, said nozzle having an opening through which said plug is accessible.

a 9. A tankhavmg a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening ment of the plug;

and in threaded engagementwith the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it vmay be turned; a stem in separable turning engagement with an inner portion of the plug through the side of the tank opposite the side where the plug is located to be operable upon the exterior of the tank; means for obstructing movement of the stem longitudinally of its axis and serving to hold the inner endof the stem at the plug opening in position to enable the plug to be engaged with the stem inthe entering moveand a discharge nozzle upon the exterior of the tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion, said nozzle having an opening through which said plug is accessible.

10. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned and an interior-formation accessible when the plug is in place, whereby it may also be turned; and a discharge nozzle separably assembled with the tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion.

11. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it maybe turned; a stem within the tank and in turning relation to said plug; and'a discharge nozzle separately assembled with the tank and in register with said discharge the plugthrough the side of the tank opposite the side where the plug islocated to v be operable upon the exterior of'the tank; and a discharge nozzle separably assembled with the tank and in register with said 'discharge opening and having an angular-out let portion;

13. A tank havinga circular discharge opening; a' removable plug within said opening and'in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned; a stem within the tank and in separable turning engagement with said plug; and a discharge nozzle separably assembled with the tank and in register with said discharge opening and having an angular outlet portion.- I a 1 14. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding" portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned; a stemin separable turning engagement with an inner portion of the plug through the side of the tank opposite the side where the plug is located to be operable upon the exterior of the tank; and a discharge nozzle separably assembled with the tank and in'register with said discharge opening and having an angular outletportion.

15. A tank having a circular discharge opening; a removable plug within said opening and in threaded engagement with the surrounding portion of the tank and having an exterior formation whereby it may be turned; a stem within the tank and in separable turning engagement with said plug; means for obstructing movement of the stem longitudinally of its axis and serving to hold the inner end of the stem at the plug opening in position to enable theplug posite the side Where the plug is located to ment of the plug; and a discharge nozzle be operable upon the exterior of the tank; separably assembled with the tank and in means for obstructing movement of the register with said discharge opening and 10 stem longitudinally of its axis and serving having an angular outlet portion.

to hold the inner end of the stem at the plug In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe opening in'position to enable the plug to be 7 my name this 20th day of March A. D., 1922. engaged with the stem in the entering move- HOWARD LOGAN. 

